Opioids and Cannabis: For those of us... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Opioids and Cannabis

Parminter profile image
13 Replies

For those of us using opioids for any reason, this guide written by Doctor Dustin Sulak might be of help.

It is clear, concise, and well-referenced.

It is chiefly concerned with pain and the opioid epidemic. But, as I consider the symptoms of RLS to be pain, not 'funny feelings', it is appropriate for us too.

Doctor Sulak was one of the interviewees in Doctor Sanjay Gupta's recent CNN documentary, and his practice is devoted to medical cannabis.

healer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Healer-Medical-Cannabis-Opioid-Guide.pdf

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Parminter
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Cannabis is illegal where I am

nightdancer profile image
nightdancer in reply to

It just became totally legal in MY state. A lot more states to follow, unless you are in the deep south, and i include Florida in that category, most states will be legal soon. The south is going to be VERY slow on this.

in reply to nightdancer

Virginia - Deep South - I do love it here though

Parminter profile image
Parminter in reply to

"One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."

That was Martin Luther KIng, but it is a sentiment oft repeated by thoughtful men and women through history.

Cannabis is also illegal where I am, but I will break the law happily. It is unjust.

The law is, indeed, immoral, where it keeps generally law-abiding, peaceful citizens from getting the healing they need, and getting it cheaply and with very few harms.

Did you know that when Nixon put the final lid on cannabis, and locked it down tight, as a 'substance with no known medical uses' (which he knew was a lie), the American Government took out a patent on it?

in reply to Parminter

I fear that my lack of cannabis on that dreadful night, played a roll in my extreme suffering. I had just run out the night before. It really does help. It’s illegal in the great state of S.C. too. I still use it though because it helps so much!

nightdancer profile image
nightdancer

Your link in unclickable, but I am sure I can find it, since I watched the show in CNN. I use marijuana, helps me sleep, if it is the right strain it helps with my pain. BUT, it does not take the place of how my pain meds are the only thing that will stop MY RLS. But, marijuana is an important med to many people. For me, I get the strains that make you sleepy and help with my back pain and headaches. I work with the pain community every day, fighting these ridiculous bills and laws, and especially getting the word out that people who are legitimate pain patients are being punished for the sins of others. AND, suicides have gone up ( and they are not accidental) in the pain community as they get their pain meds cut or completely taken away. It is all about $$$$$$$$ and it is a HUGE problem that does not need to be there, and that is why I call it the "fake opioid crisis". The spin that the CDC and the DEA and the very few doctors they used (who have a stake in drug companies making certain meds) are putting on it is sickening, and they have admitted to "skewing the statistics".

Parminter profile image
Parminter in reply to nightdancer

Dancer, it is cut-and-pastable (what strange new, inelegant terms we need these times).

I think that there will be little that is new to you, as you are so very knowledgeable about these matters.

But it does re-enforce the message that cannabis potentiates opioids, which is good news for all sorts of reasons. It could certainly be the way out of the opioid crisis for the addicted if only the medical profession would find its (excuse me) balls/testicles/knackers. And it might be a way into more-acceptable opioid use for this community.

It is three in the morning in Africa, and I have just had to give in and take 10mg of methadone. I would love to have had a cookie handy so that I could reduce the dose and possibly get some sleep.

But I am in a village where lots of the animals are, by all accounts, medicated with cannabis, so I shall find me a farmer, and pretend to be a horse.

Apart from my own present sleeplessness, the news is generally cheering.

I am far from any member of the medical profession, in a little cottage high on a hill looking towards the sea ten miles away, but I intend to find a way to have an e-mail consult about dipyridamole with my ever-generous GP. I think he would far rather give me that than methadone.

in reply to Parminter

I LOVE THIS:

so I shall find me a farmer, and pretend to be a horse. Thank you for the smile!

Parminter profile image
Parminter in reply to

Well, Caeryl, I did not find a farmer, not at first, but I did find a cheese-maker with a lot of tattoos.

I said 'Hi, if you make cheese do you also make cannabis-cookies?'

She said, 'Sure, I need the ingredients but here's a THC capsule instead'.

Then I spoke to my previously-unknown neighbour, who runs two beef herds and loves horses.

She said 'Mike across the way is harvesting now, we'll get some tomorrow and do some baking'.

So there you go, you just have to ask.

And I didn't even have to pretend to be a horse.

By the way, the cheesemaker makes wonderful cheese. She also makes American cheese in a tiny village in the wilds of Africa. So sorry for you guys, but your cheese is really boring!

No offence meant.

I bought the Italian one.

in reply to Parminter

That's okay - No offense taken - THAT my friend is why many of us make our own (AND our own soap, lotions, candles, etc. etc. etc... ha ha) Glad you got it sussed

Parminter profile image
Parminter in reply to

The horse-and-beef lady is now simmering cannabis butter for me. It should be enough to last the rest of my life.

I am in a small village where most people are like you - make your own.

Good for you.

in reply to Parminter

The curse of the paranoid - ha ha. I think a small village would be very interesting

Cantstopwontstop profile image
Cantstopwontstop

Well-presented information. Thanks for sharing.

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